From a Sacrament meeting talk given on 3/11/18
Holiness. I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to study this topic. For better or worse, my mind struggles to understand abstract concepts and principles, and the word holiness has been no exception. I’m more comfortable with topics that systematically, and linearly fit into the confined box of my limited understanding. In efforts to understand what holiness means, I’ve asked friend’s and family, “what does holiness mean to you?” As soon as those words have left my lips, I’ve been caught off guard with the hypocrisy that it portrays. Like so many other things in the gospel of Jesus Christ, it’s not about what holiness means to me, it’s about what holiness means to God. If he were here, right now, standing beside me, how would he define holiness?
Just this week, I finished reading the book “The Christ who Heals” by Terryl Givens, an LDS Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond, and also a former bishop of mine who I hold in the highest regard. Part of his book discusses the difficulty translators of the Bible encountered, and the limitations they met as they took Greek words and translated them into english. One word in particular from the King James Bible was the word “save” as translated from the Greek word “sodzo.” And he who saves is written, “soter” based on the same word. But when Luke uses this identical term “sodzo” it is used to describe Jesus’ act of healing the blind man. Mark and Matthew also use this word “sodzo” in reference to healing the girl from a plague as well as healing the woman with the issue of blood. As Terryl Givens puts it “rather than render the Messiah’s title of soter as Savior, we could with equal linguistic justification call him Jesus Christ, son of God, and Healer of the world. In substituting this virtue, healing signals the beginning of a glorious journey now unfolding, while saving implies it’s end.” He goes on, “we Latter-day Saints are still too reliant upon the assumptions, the implications, and especially the language that generations of well-intentioned but misguided theologians and Reformers alike introduced into the domain of religious thought.” (pg. 3)
So I’m brought back to my initial question. What is holiness and if Christ were here today, how would he describe it? Is it a feeling? Is it a place? Is it a person? President James E. Faust said that holiness is a standard of righteousness. Elder D. Todd Christofferson said that “If we yearn to dwell in Christ and have Him dwell in us, then holiness is what we seek.” The only person in the scriptures that is defined as possessing holiness is God himself. The Bible dictionary and LDS guide to the scriptures say holiness is spiritual and moral perfection, it indicates the intent and purity of a person’s heart, and is the mind of godliness.
In short, and in ways my limited mind can understand, holiness is the crowning jewel, the all encompassing word that defines all of what God did, who he is, and what he does. In one word, it typifies his omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, and a new word I discovered, his omnibenevloence (which is all good, loving and kind traits). It is no wonder that he chooses to compare and associate himself to light, for the presence of true natural and white light (as we learn from physics) is the combination of all colors of the rainbow, and all wavelengths harmoniously married together. Holiness is light, and it is a grand summation of the colors of his perfect character and moral goodness.
How do we attempt at being holy? I believe the precursor and foundation of holiness lies in our ability to receive God’s blessings. In preparing this talk a few weeks ago, I was in the middle of writing an article that was to be published in a non-denominational christian blog about my struggles as a mother in raising a child with special needs, and how the definition of a blessing has changed my life. While I understood and believed that “when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:21), I wondered where all my blessings were during the last 6 years of my life. Our sweet William was born sick, and spent the better portion of his first year of life in the hospital. He endured open-heart surgery, 3 1/2 years of acid refulx, two types of feeing tubes, 4 rounds of ear tubes, 3 rounds of pneumonia, RSV, rare skin diseases, unstable vertebrae, bad eyes, bad ankles, and then recently diagnosed with apraxia and autsim. Although far from perfect, I’ve always made an honest attempt towards obedience, but felt neglected in my lack of divine rescue or help. A quick social media search of “#soblessed” comes up with over 2 million images of gorgeous hair, elaborate vacations, healthy babies, fit bodies, or immaculate homes. Is this how God endow’s his blessings of holiness? Through popularity, prominence and providence? My gut told me no, and I began to be fixated on the word blessings as I began studying the scriptures for my answer.
I first looked up the word “blessing” in the topical guide, bible dictionary and index, and read every verse and scriptural passage with that word contained in it. If I didn’t understand the historical or scriptural context, I pulled out Sunday school manuals, searched conference talks, perused Jewish and various Christian perspectives, and again, tried to pull all this information into the limited confines of my mind. After this thorough investigation into “blessings” I decided to do the same thing with all the “see also” words with which the topical guide, bible dictionary and index associated blessings. Such words included miracles, tender mercies, gifts, and talents. After reading every scripture and studying all I could about those words I began a list of all the laws of heaven that exist in scriptures, and diagrammed all the blessings that fell under obedience to each and every law. While I own my manic and hyper-focus ways, being on such a quest in attempts to understand the mind of God and how he worked was as high of a privilege and opportunity as any. In addition, the peace that my study provided my mind and heart, alleviated part of the stress I was enduring in my personal crucible of mortality.
In my study of blessings, I stumbled upon the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. There’s a footnote in my Bible to Matthew 5:3 that reads, “The Latin beatus is the basis of the English ‘beatitude’ meaning ‘to be fortunate,’ ‘to be happy,’ or ‘to be blessed.’” Here the Lord, beautifully describes his definition of blessings.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matt 5: 3-10)
Here we learn, that blessings from heaven are the very seeds of his holiness, and characterize his divine nature. Blessings are about becoming more humble, more meek, more merciful, more pure in heart, more forgiving, more empathetic and more as He is. (Matt 5:48) In fact, every law, covenant, ordinance, and commandment serve this same purpose -to help us become more like the Holy One of Israel. Blessings are about being honest, true, chaste, benevolent and virtuous, and when ratified by the Holy Ghost, brings a change in our very natures, and helps us become more fit for the kingdom of God.
I found it comforting that the Lord here doesn’t associate health as blessings. My whole house could be burning down, and yet it takes no hold on my blessings or favor with God. The Lord also doesn’t associate marital status or even children in this life with blessings. Thank heavens, for how many wonderful people live without marriage, or children through no fault of their own? Surely the number of miscarriages women have faced speak nothing of God’s blessings toward them. Truly following our moral compass, the commandments, and covenants brings about the blessings and holiness of God. This understanding of blessings levels the playing field for all of God’s children, no matter their race, culture, gender or nationality. It doesn’t only make blessings available to members of the church of Jesus christ who have made the highest covenants revealed to us in the holy temples, but also the atheist, heathen, or Chinese woman who never hears Christ’s name. (2Ne 26:24-33). As every child born into this world receives the light of Christ, each synonymously and simultaneously receives a portion of the laws of heaven, as mandated by their conscience, or moral compass. Mornoni says that (7:16) that “the Spirit of Christ is given to every man that he may know good from evil. And that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to good continually.” God’s holiness can be felt all over the world, whether in China or Chicago, India or Indonesia, and as these people are obedient to the laws of heaven they have received they (D&C 50:24) “receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” Truly bad things happen to good people, but to loose favor with God comes only one way, and that is sin through deliberate disobedience.
As the understanding of the beatitudes filled my heart and soul, I realized that I had been acting childish in my prayers to God. Just as I’ve seen my sons ungratefully receive a generous gift from a friend or neighbor, I had been acting the same way towards God’s divine favors. Sometimes I’ve begged for a miracles, and I’ve been given a tender mercy. Other times I’ve pled for a talent, and been unsatisfied when he’s given me a gift. This treasure trove of divine favors includes, but is not limited to, miracles, tender mercies, gifts, talents and blessings. For sake of time, I’d like to focus on the gems talents and gifts and discuss how they help us live the commandment to “be ye therefore holy, even as I the Lord am holy,” (Leviticus 20:26).
The beatitude blessings of meekness, love, mercy and compassion, brings us together, but as I’ve studied the divine favor of talents, I’ve learned that they differentiate us, and create inequality within our world, communities, schools and even families. Talents, if left unchecked, creates a “holier than thou” attitude instead of a spirit of holiness.
The parable of the talents as described in Matthew tells of a man traveling into a far country, and delivered unto his own servants some of his goods. The Lord divvied up talents “according to his several ability.” One servant he gave five, another he gave two, and another he gave one. The servant who had five talents multiplied them and made five more, the one with two talents he multiplied with two more, and the servant with one, who was lazy and slothful, and who buried his deep into the earth, the lord not only chastised but gave the talent to another. (Matt 25:14-30)
While I do not understand why the Lord gave differing amounts of talents to his servants, I find comfort in knowing that these were not blessings. The chief principle taught here was the law of the harvest -we reap what we sow. You get out what you put in. Those that use their talents by the sweat of their brow, learn the principles of hard work, diligence and dedication. They reap the rewards -both for better or worse. My husband and I saw the musical play Hamilton, written and scored by Lin Manuel Miranda. I’m nearly done reading Ron Chernow’s fascinating biography of Alexander Hamilton, and our son William in enamored with the hip-hop melodies from this broadway musical. I can’t figure out with which character, Hamilton or Lin Manuel, I’m most inspired by. Both figures fought tooth and nail, studied, developed and shared talents that we all benefit from. But again, it is important to note, talents are different from blessings. Success, fame and fortune can be used as a platform for better or worse… and I find it dangerous to synonymously claim that any innately inherited talent, or product from hard work, is somehow a sign of divine favor. The seeds of talents as well as the fruits of talents can be knowledge, expertise in field, wealth, attractive bodies, and/or anything that sets us apart from our neighbor. Talents are what make life beautiful and interesting, what gives us our individuality and the feeling of being special. But blessings are predicated on obedience to laws of heaven, and have everything to do with holiness, our hearts, humility, and meekness. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Matthew 16:23, 26). Blessings do not foster a holier than thou mentality, they foster a holy and loving community.
The scriptures are replete of examples of talented individuals, like King Noah, who without blessings, became holier than thou. Joseph of Egypt was a talented individual, he was the favorite child of Jacob and Rebecca, could interpret dreams, had a coat of many colors and because of his talents, his brothers were threatened and jealous of him. Talents or birthrights in those days indicated more responsibility than anything, but I wonder if these brothers understood that blessings were the lateral ascension toward heaven then maybe they wouldn’t have been so jealous of Joseph. Cain slew Abel over the jealousy of his talents, and even the perfect and sinless son of God was ridiculed by others who I feel felt threatened and jealous by his talents.
This difficult dichotomy of talents and blessings can be difficult to balance, but luckily the Lord has not left us alone. The Lord offers us another divine favor, the gem of gifts.
Webster’s dictionary defines gift as “something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation.” I believe such gifts include, but are not limited to agency, forgiveness, mercy and grace for they cannot be repaid. Maybe even children in this life would fall under this category. In addition and as I was preparing this talk on holiness, I discovered a pattern in the scriptures associated with the word holy. I don’t think the Lord mixes his words and all “holy” words listed in the scriptures are gifts that our Good Shepherd gives to us as aides and help along our life’s journey. These holy gifts also are an integral part of harmoniously balancing our talents and blessings together. They include but are not limited to, the holy sabbath, the holy sacrament, the holy temple, the holy priesthood, the holy scriptures, and the holy ghost. The other night while I was going over my talk with my husband he said, well, the holy temple seems more like it falls under the category of a blessing. Like Elder David A. Bednar discussed in his trilogy of books discussing the difference between doctrines, principles and applications, not all things in the gospel fall neatly in one of these categories. And I do not profess my ideas of gems of divine favor all fall neatly under each category. But I do see patterns that have brought me peace and understanding.
divine favor all fall neatly under each category. But I do see patterns that have brought me peace and understanding.
Last week in our scriptures study, my son Cooper read this scriptural account of Jesus’ visit to the Americas, as detailed in the Book of Mormon. The following scripture jumped out at me, and I believe it harmoniously weaves in the light of holiness, talents and blessings and our purpose for seeking them.
3 Nephi 12:14-16 says “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven.”
President Hinkley said it this way, “It is not enough just to be good. We must be good for something. We must contribute good to the world. The world must be a better place for our presence. And the good that is in us must be spread to others.”
In this last and final dispensation, and in preparation for the second coming of the savior, let us harmoniously utilize all the gems of divine favors with which the Lord has endowed. In so doing, it is my testimony that we will become more acquainted with the man of holiness, and a combination of our talents and blessings collectively brings about greater and holier purposes.
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